Downsizing and The Law of the Vital Few

In organizing, the 80/20 Rule tells us that 80% of what we need is in 20% of what we have.

Let me say that again. 80% of what we need is in 20% of what we have. We use 20% of our stuff all the time. And the other 80% of our stuff, not nearly so much.

The 80 / 20 Rule comes up in almost every presentation I give! Just like “Filing is For Retrieval, Not For Storage”, which we looked at a few weeks ago, I bring up The 80 / 20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, all the time as a guide to help us clear clutter.

In the last month, I discovered that the 80/20 Rule is also called The Law of the Vital Few, and though I didn’t think I could love the concept more, I LOVE this idea, of “the Vital Few”.

The next leap from “the Vital Few” is to realize that we can “Let One Represent Many”.

Let me say that again. “Let One Represent Many”.

And then let me explain:

One of my roles as an organizer is to work beside my client as they review their belongings with the intention of purging some items to help focus on others. We often end up walking down memory lane as we review items, though I have to be careful to not let the reminiscing get in the way of forward progress.

What often amazes me is the 400 items a client has kept that “remind” them of a certain time or event, like a large box of memorabilia from a favorite trip 20 years ago.  And then we admire the framed photo on the wall from that same trip.

Perhaps we’re working through a very full clothing closet, where a client has kept all the suits she ever wore for her professional life even though she is now retired or not required to wear suits.

Why do we need the box of memorabilia to remind us of a trip that we are reminded of every day? The answer is, We Do Not.

And do we need a closet full of clothes we don’t wear to remind us of our professional achievements? We do not.

So, if it is time to make clear clutter or downsize or just live lighter, consider

  • The Pareto Principle tells us that 80% of what we need is in 20% of what we have.
  • So, we need to focus most on our Vital Few – that 20% that we use all the time – and make sure that is easily accessed and well maintained.
  • We can look more critically at the 80% of our stuff that we use less often, and let some of it GO!

Moving forward:

  • Allow time for reminiscing. It is often that time to reminisce that people crave, the memory of connection or fun or achievement, and not the items themselves that people need.
  • Remind yourself that letting go or paring down of items does not diminish our love for a person or event. Letting go is about the stuff and not the memory. It’s making the decision to eliminate much of the clutter to be able to focus on these fewer but wonderful items you choose to keep.
  • Maintenance is required! Boxes of memorabilia need an annual check-in, or a cognition at the outset that souvenirs are meant to be enjoyed and shared, or just not acquired.
  • A tip: Since I used trip memorabilia as an example: When I travel, I don’t buy many souvenirs anymore.  I will purchase consumables – jams and jellies are a favorite, and we have a family tradition of fridge magnets! – but not too many t-shirts or shot glasses or themed ANYTHING. I would rather have photos or really useful items for my home that I may see regularly, rather than keepsakes that will end up in a box.
  • Turn your treasures into something useful. A good friend and client was very close to her aunt. When the aunt passed, my friend received many boxes of her aunt’s keepsakes. My client didn’t have room to store or display everything, but she “let one represent many” and had her aunt’s silver thimble collection professionally mounted and displayed in a shadow box to hang on her wall.

Finally, if you want to know more about the 80/20 Rule, a.k.a., the Pareto Principle, a.k.a., The Law of the Vital Few, check out these resources: